Safety mechanism for power-operated doors.



J. S. DOYLE. SAFETY MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1909.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ic'z'u- I J. S. DOYLE. SAFETY MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED noons.

A'PPLIOATION FILED SEPT 16, 1909. Patented Oct 3 ww h QM 57 W 1 A MIIIIII/IIIIII/II qwi bweooeo Wm UNi TTEd ATE NT {in JAMES S. DOYLE, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BURDETTROWNTREE MillUFA TUBING COMPANY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 03? ILLINOIS.

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR POwERiOPERATED DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. a, raft.

' city, county, and State of New York, have Safety Mechanism made acertain new and useful Invention in for Power Operated Doors, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to safety appliances for power operated doors orother closures, and the object is to provide means which are simple andeffective for automatically releasing a door or other closure fromoperative connection with respect to its' power actuating devices, incase an obstruction is encountered'by the door or other closure, in

closing.

more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, andfinally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views andreference signs appearing thereon,l igure l is a view in side elevationof a door and its frame work, showing safety devices embodying theprineiples of my invention applied, portions of the frame Work and doorbeing broken out. Fig. 2 is a detail. view of the latch mechanism shownin Fig. 1, the front plate of the door being removed and, the shoe,spring and mounting being in part section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view inhorizontal section on the line 3, 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrow 7 showing the shoe 'in telescoped position. Fig. 4 is a brokenView in perspective, showing he detachable latch for coupling the poweractuated arm or lever to the door. Fig. 5 is a broken view in section,on the line 5, 5, Fig. 4. looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6is a.

view similar to Fig. 4, showing the detaching lug, for disconnecting thedoor and its power actuated lever. Fig. 7 '18 a broken detail view insection, on the line 7. 7, Fig.-

1), looking in the direction of the arrows.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever' itoccurs through the several views.

Other objects of the invention will appear In the operation of poweractuated doors or other closures and similar devices, itvery frequentlyhappens that in closing, the door or other device encounters anobstruction, which causes the closing movement of the 'door to bearrested or restrained, or else the power applied to the door to closeit en (leavers to overcome the obstruction with the result, that in casethe ohstructionis the arm, shoulder or other part of the body of aperson, of causing serious and sometimes fatal injury. lVhere theobstruction encountered is sufficient to arrest the action of the powerdevices in moving the door or other closure toward its closed position,the application of the power employed to effect the closing movement ofthe door, continuing after the obstruction is encountered, tends tocause a continued squeeze of the obstruction between the advancing edgeof the door and the door jamb, and sometimes with an increasing forcedepeni'ling upon the character of the door moving devices, and inanyevent, thc'withdrawal or removal of the. obstruction results incausing the door to move too rapidly toward its final closed position,therebycausing an objectionable slam.

The objections abovenoted are particularly serious in the case of theoperation through power actuated devices of doors, gates'or otherclosures, of street, subway, elevated, passengerelevator and other cars,and the like, and especially where it is necessary for large crowds ofpeople to use or pass through the doorways or entrances of such "cars.The dangers and objections above noted are increased where the doors areoperated by pressure mediumsuch, for instance, compressed air, since:the pressure applied to close the door when once placed in commission,continues to build up when an obstruction is encountered and hence anincreasing force is applied. tending to move the door'to its closedposition during the time the obstruction remains in the front of theadvancing edge of'the door.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to providemeans whereby the power actuating devices for the door are automaticallydisconnected. from the door, in case the front or advancing-edge of thedoor, in closing, encounters in its path of movement an obstructiontending to arrest the furthe advancing movement of the door, and rendersthe same inert and harmless.

In the drawings, I have shown one form.

of an embodiment of the present invention, as applied to the operationof a sliding door, such as is ordinarilyemployed in street, subway andelevated cars. It is to be understood however, that my invention, as defined in the claims, is not to be limited or restricted in respect tothis application or Reference sigrrlO, designates the door operatinglever, through the operation of which the door is moved. This lever maybe power actuated in any suitable or convenient manner and from anysuitable or convenient source of power. In the particular form shown, towhich however, my invention, as defined in the claims, is not to belimited or restricted, the operating lever 10, is pivotally connected atone end, as at 1.1, to the end of the link 12, which is pivotallyconnected as at 13, to a fixed part of the ear frame. 7 A link 14, ispivotally connected at one end, as at 15, to the operating lever '10,and at its other end, as at [(3, to an arm 1.7, the latter beingoperated by a piston operating in the power cylinder 18. through anintermediate segment rack 19, in a well known and well understoodmanner. It is obvious that many other suitable or convenient forms ofpower mechanism may be em 1 loyed for the purposes of my invention.

The free end of the door operating lever 10, is pivotally connected asat 20, see Figs. and 7, with a slide block 21, mounted to slide upon abar 22, rigidly connected to the door to move therewith. The slide block21 is free to move along the bar 22, except when restrained by a latch24, which is pivotally connected at one end to the. door and providedwith a hook l1 at its other end to engage over the front edge of theblock 21.

A spring serves to retain the hooked end of latch 21 in engagingrelation with respect to the front. edge of the slide block. andnormally presses said latch toward such ongaging relation.

At its front edge. the door is provided with a shoe 26,.mounted inyielding relation with respect to the door, and, in effect, constitutingan extension of the front or ad vancing edge of the door. In theparticular embodiment of my invention, sh wn 'in the drawings, but towhich .my invention is not to be limited or restricted, this shoeextends the entire length of the door, and is of U shape, arranged totelescope over the front edge of the door, as most clearly shown insection, in Fig. 3. The shoe is supported upon rods 27, extendingthrough the frontedge portion 28, of the door proper, these rods beingmounted to slide longitudinally yieldingly maintain the shoe 26 offsetfrom v the edge of the door. In the particular arrangement shown, thesprings 34, bear at one end against the. guide blocks 32, and at theirother end against collars 35, carried by the rods 27, the tension ofsaid springs 34, being normally exerted upon said rods 27 in a directionto press the shoe away from the front edge portion of the door. Thesprings 33, bear at one end against the opposite side or end of theguide blocks 32, and at their other ends against collars 36, carried bythe ends of the rods 27, the tension of these springs 33 being normallyexerted in the direction to move the rods 27, longitudinally into thechamber 29.

The tensions of the springs 33, 34, oppose each other, and hence enablecomparatively light pressure exerted on the front edge of the shoe tomove the same telescopically on to the front edge. of the door, and Ipropose to so relatively proportion the tensions of these springs as tosecure these results. A slide bar 37, is provided and is mounted toslide through guide blocks 38, 39 mounted on the inner surface of one ofthe door side plates 3]. This slide bar 37 is provided with a cam head40. having an inclined surface designed to coi'iperate with a similarinclined surface on the hooked end 41, of the locking latch 24, todisengage the latter from the slide block 21. The slide bar 37, isprovided at its opposite end with the flange 42, arranged in the path oflongitudinal movement of one of the shoe supporting rods 27. A spring43. interposed between the guide blocks 39 and flange 4L, norn'ialtvexerts its pressure upon the slide bar 37 to move the latterlongitudinally in the 'direc.v tion to withdraw the inclined surface ofcam head 40'. from engaging relation with the end of latch 24. Whenhowever. the rod 27 is projected endwise into the chamber 29, as forinstance, when in closing, the front or advancing edge of the door. inthis instance the front or advancing edge of the shoe 26, encounters anobstruction such as a passenger getting on or off the ear. the

door being impelled toward its closing position by the power actuateddevices, the springs 34 yield against the pressure exerted by the shoeagainst the obstruction, thereby moving the rod 27 into" the chamber 29,and hence causing the end of the rod 27, to engage the flange 42, on theslide bar 37, and project the latter endwise against the pressure ofspring 43, and hence carrying the inclined surface of cam head 40, intodevices are automatically disconnected from the door. These twofunctions are accomplished by the cushion arrangen'ient on the frontedge of the door. 'hen an obstruction is encountered by the front edgeof the door. in closing. even when moving rapidlyunder the influence ofthe motor which moves the door toward its closed position, it is firstcushioned. by the collapsing or telcsco )ical movement of the shoe 2Gand l a thereafter the power mechanism or ii'iotor is automaticallydetached-from operative connection with the door, and consequently thedanger of injury to passengers getting on or off the car is obviated,while permitting the power mechanism to complete its full forwardstroke, leaving the door free to be moved by hand. After the obstructionhas been removed from-in front of the door, the springs'M, restore theshoe to its distended position, thereby removing the 'iressure fromspring43, and enabling the latter to restore slide bar 37 to itsnormally retracted position with its cam head 40 withdrawn from engagingrelation with respect to the locking latch 24. Now, by re rersing themotor to open the door, the slide block 21, moves freely along the slide22, and eventually the spring causes the latch 24 to snap into engagingrelation with respect to the front edge of the block 21, thereby againcoupling up the door with the motor or power mechanism.

Many variations and changes in the details of construction andarrangement might readily occur to persons skilled in the art 1 andstill fall within the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined inthe claims. T do not desire therefore, to be limited or restricted tothe exact details shown and described. But

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention, and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof, what it claim as new anduseful, .and of my own tor, a n arm 1. The combination with a. door, ofpower operated devices for operatmg the door, and means operated by thedoor striltin an ole-- striiction, in closing for disconnecting the doorand its operating devices.

2. The combination with a door, and power actuz'ited-dei'ices for movingthe same, of means operated by the door strikingan obstruction in itspath, in closing, for antoiiiatically disconnecting the power op ei'ateddevices from the door.

3. The combination with a door, and power operated mechanism therefordetachably connected thereto, of neans carried by the door and operatedby encountering an obstruction, in closing. for detaching said poweractuated mechanism from the door.

4. The coii'ibiiiation' with a door, and power operated devices formoving the door,

of yielding means carried by the door and operating when encountering anobstruction in the path of the closing ii'iovement of the door todetach. the power operated devices from operative connection with thedoor.

5. The combination with a door, and power operated iiiecliaiiisitherefor, of means (win-trolled by an encountered obstruc tion to theclosing movement of the door, for detaching the power operated mechanismfrom the door, without arresting the operation of said power operatedmechanism.

(3. The combination with a door, a motor, and detachable connectionsbetween the den... and motor for moving the door, of means forcontrolling said connections. said means crating ii'lien an obstr etionis encountered in the closur niorciiient of the door to disconncct saidconnections and door.

H Ti 3 t; 4|; 1' i. It .oai inii ioii iii. 1 .i sitin other. anoperating motor ti'ierefor, and detach able connections lietivceii thedoor and. mo- -'tor, of a yielding nii-inibei carried by the door at itsfront edge, and means operated by the yielding increment of said memberfor detaching the connections between the door and its operat root or.

8. The combiiiatiwith a door a motor, an arm UPC! coni'iected to theooor, gage said arm to and i'neans ope g ing an ol'istriicticn in cits.said hitch.

9. 'ihe coii'ihinatioii a door, of a ma arranged to be moved by themotor a latch carried by the door a id ranged to enga said arm to couplethe to the door, and met ca ried y the door at its front edge opera byencoun tering an obstruction in the closing movement of the door,detachin 3 from engaging relatii'in with the I 10. The combination witha door having a bar mounted thereon, a block mounted to slide on saidbar, an arm connected to said nd arranged to en- .he same to the door,door SHCLlIIl YQP 1 by the motor, a latch,

mg, for releasing block, a motor for operating said arm, a latchconnected to the door to engage said block, and means carried by thefront edge of the door, and operated by encountering an obstruction inthe closing movement of said door for detaching the latch from saidblock.

11. The combination with a door, and a motor, having detachableconnections therewith for moving the same, a member carried by the doorat its tront edge, and mounted for movement relative to the door,

and means operated by the yielding movement of said member for detachingthe eonnections between the door and its operating motor.

12-. The combination with a door, of a inotor for operating the same,-ayicldingly mounted cushion carried by the front edge of the door, andmeans operated by the yielding movement of the cushion, whenencountering an obstruction in the closing lnoven'ient of the door fordetaching the connections of the motor and door.

13. The combination with a door, of a motor, and connections between thedoor and motor for operating the former, a shoe arranged at the frontedge of the door, and yieldingly mounted for movement relatively to thedoor, a slide bar arranged to be engaged. and moved when the shoe ismoved relatively to the door, and means operated by the movement of theslide for detaching the connections of the door and motor.

14. The combination with a door, of a motor, operating conne -tionsbetween the door and motor, a shoe arranged at the front edge or thedoor, a rod carried by the door and eonnectml to the. shoe.a springacting on said rod to yieldingly'press the shoe away from the door, andmeans operated by the yielding movement of the shoe toward the edge, olthe door for detaching the motor connections with the door.

15. The eombinatimi with a door, of a motor, connections between the.motor and door for operating the latter, slide rods carried by the doorand extending through the front edge thereof, a shoe carried by theslide rods and telescoping over the front. edge of the door, springsacting o. saidrods, whereby said shoe torms a yielding cushion for thefront edge oi. the door, and means operated by the yielding movement oithe shoe for detaching the motor cor. :eetiens from the door.

Ill. The combination with a door, of a mo tor, an arm operated by themotor, a latch carried by the door to engage said arm to couple thesaineto the door, a slide bar mounted on the door and arranged, whenprojected, to engage said latch and detach the same from engagingrelation witlrthe arm, means for yieldingly maintaining said slide barretracted from engaging relation with respect to said latch, a yieldingcushion for the t'ront edge of said door, and. connections operated bythe yielding moven'ient of the cushion to project: said slide bar.

17. The combination with a door, of 'a motor, detachable conneetimislwtaveen the motor and door, a cushion device carried by,the front edgeof the door, and mechanism operated by the yielding movement of thecushion for detaching said connections.

ln testimony whereo'l' l have hereunto set my hand in the. presence ofthe subscribing witnesses. on this llth day of September JAN ES 8. DOYLE.

\Vit nesses:

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